D Black grabs Channel O award
Heading the winner’s list was Nigerian superstar D’Banj who capped an amazing 2012 by taking home the most anticipated award of the night Most Gifted Video of the Year for his chart-topper Oliver Twist.
One of 2012’s biggest artists, Zahara, was named winner of the Most Gifted Female Video at the awards event - which took place in Soweto, Johannesburg, for the first time this year. The South African sensation took the highly coveted category for her breakthrough single Loliwe.
On the night, Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown was transformed into a playground of the Young, Gifted and African as the top artists and entertainers turned out in their droves.
Another of the night’s most closely watched category Most Gifted Newcomer highlights emerging talent from the continent, and this year, it was Nigeria’s Davido who took home the trophy – for his massive hit Dami Duro.
Davido’s country folk, P Square once again proved to be a Channel O Music Video Awards favourite: the Nigerian twins won the Most Gifted Duo, Group or Featuring Video for the third time for Chop My Money featuring Akon and May D.
On an evening that featured a host of superb live performances from many of South Africa’s dance and house hotshots – including Mi Casa, DJ Zinhle, and Bucie – it was a South African innovator DJ Cleo who won Most Gifted Dance Video for his social network hit Facebook beating off some stiff competition.
The cross-border collaboration of Zimbabwean-born Buffalo Souljah with Angola’s Cabo Snoop “Styra Inonyengesa” was named Most Gifted Ragga Dancehall Video while rising Nigerian star, Brymo, took home the award for Most Gifted Afro Pop Video for Ara.
It was another border-breaking hook-up that snagged Most Gifted Kwaito Video when EES featuring Mandoza’s Ayoba beat off stiff competition in this closely watched category while Oyi, by Flavour featuring Tiwa Savage took home this year’s Most Gifted R&B Video Award. The last of the genre categories – Most Gifted Hip Hop Video – was award to multi-talented Ice Prince for his massive hit Superstar.
The Nigerian artist was the award’s co-host with South African Bonang Matheba – and the couple brilliantly kept the flow going on a night jam-packed with live music performances and the who’s who of African entertainment.
The awards evening was capped when multi-talented South African music veteran, Oskido, was named as this year’s Special Recognition recipient at the 9th Annual Channel O Music Video Awards.
